Scroll roll

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a scroll roll having several unique applications. Fundamentally, the invention consists of a cylindrical body member upon which is mounted spiral blade members longitudinally diverging about the circumference of the cylinder. The blades are removably mounted to the cylindrical body member by engagement between blade supporting flanges secured to the cylindrical member.

United States Patent 1191 Gross [4 Aug. 13, 1974 SCROLL ROLL 7 I t I F k R. G 392 W dth Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles 1 men or tf 3 2 rush Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oldham & Oldham Co.

[22] Filed: Feb. 20, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 333,683 [571 ABSTRACT This invention relates to a scroll roll having several [52] US. Cl 226/192, 29/121 H, 26/63, unique applications. Fundamentally, the invention 222/413 consists of a cylindrical body member upon which is [51] Int. Cl B65h 17/20 mounted spiral blade members longitudinally diverg- [58] Field of Search 226/190, 191, 192, 193; ing about he circumference of the cylinder. Th 26/63, 65; 29/ 121 H blades are removably mounted to the cylindrical body member by engagement between blade supporting [56] References Cited flanges secured to the cylindrical member.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,435,712 11/1922 Livesey 29/121 11 6 Clams 6 Drawmg P E I mum 3|974 3 ,m ,99

sum 2 M 2 GEARBOX 35 TENSION BRAKE scRoLL ROLL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore in numerous industries where continuous sheets or lengths of a given material are caused to pass over rollers or other feeding apparatus from one processing unit to another it has become apparent that a necking-down or narrowing of the sheet or length of material being processed often occurs due to longitudinal tension within the material as it passes between the various rollers or feeding mechanisms. To overcome this necking-down it would be desirable to introduce a tension transverse to the longitudinal tension within the material. Further, there also may be wrinkles in fabric stored in rolls which have to be removed for printing, etc.

Consequently, it is an object of the instant invention to present a scroll roll which may be associated with processing rollers or feeding mechanism whereby a tension may be caused to effect the material passing over the rollers in a direction transverse to the motional direction of the material.

A further object of the invention is to present a scroll roll having replaceable spiral blades.

Yet another object of the invention is to present a scroll roll which may be used as a screw-type feed apparatus for granular or liquid substances.

A further object of the invention is to present a scroll roll which is inexpensive to construct and yet reliable and durable in operation.

These objects and other objects which will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds are achieved by a scroll roll, comprising a cylindrical body member and at least one set of blade members spirally wound about the circumference of the body member and attached thereto.

For a full understanding and appreciation of the apparatus and techniques of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the scroll roll comprising the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the mid section of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the blade elements of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a simplified showing of processing apparatus utilizing the scroll roll of the instant invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the center joining unit of the invention which smoothly joins the two blade elements of the invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates the instant invention in a contemplated use thereof.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a scroll roll, designated generally by the numeral 10, may be seen. The scroll roll 10 comprises a cylindrical body member 12 normally having a mounting shaft 14 attached to and extending from each end thereof. Two sets of threads or composite rib blades are spirally wrapped about the cylindrical body member 12, the blades being positioned perpendicular with respect to the circumference of the member 12, although in some cases the blades may be angled to up to about 30. The first set of threads or composite rib blades is designated generally by the numeral 16 and constitutes a lefthanded thread.

A second set of threads, designated by the numeral 18, appears as a righthanded thread about the cylindrical body 12. The threads 16 and 18 substantially share a common point at the center 20 of the body 12 and longitudinally diverge therefrom towards the ends of the cylinder. Of course, it will become apparent that the blades 16 and 18 may substantially join together at a point other than the center 20 of the cylinder 12.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show double pitch spirals which comprise two spirals on each side touching each other. However, there may be only one spiral on each side, with space between each turn. With the spirals touching each other on the lateral edges of their bases, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, if a stainless steel base is used the body member may be of a cheaper grade steel thus reducing the overall cost of the scroll roll.

It can be seen by reference to FIG. 1 that if the shaft 14 of the scroll roll 10 were connected to a motor (not shown) and caused to rotate in the direction of the arrow 22 then opposing spiraling motions would be caused by the blades 16 and 18. The utilization of these opposing spiraling motions can best be had by reference to FIG. 4. Here it can be seen that a let off reel 24 containing thereon a continuous length of material 38 is caused to feed the material 38 to a processor or wind-up reel 36 wherein the material 38 is to be processed for utilization in a final product. As the material 38 leaves the reel 24 it passes over a guide or idler wheel 26, three scroll rolls 28, 29 and 30, and finally enters the processor or wind-up reel 36. The wind-up reel 36 is driven by an appropriate motor 37 which in turn drives through an appropriate gear box 35 to directly control the rotating speed of the rolls 28-30. The rolls may rotate in similar or opposite directions. It should of course be understood that the apparatus of FIG. 4 is shown for illustrative purposes only and indeed, there may be other guide wheels or processing wheels within the system.

The let off reel 24 cooperates with a tension brake 25 to keep the fabric or web stretched tight throughout the processing. The guide wheel 26 is a passive wheel in that it has no source of motivation associated with it. The rate of dispensing of the material 38 from the let off reel 24 is dependent upon the wind-up reel 36 and its associated motor 37. The reel 36 pulls the material 38 from the reel 24 at a rate dependent upon the rate of rotation of the reel 36. Generally, the scroll rolls 28-30 will be rotated by the motor 37 through gear box 35 at an angular velocity slightly greater than that of the wind-up reel 36. However, the coefficient of friction between the material 38 and each of the scroll rolls 28-30 is preferably less than that between the material 38 and the reel 36 such that slippage will be experienced between the scroll rolls 28-30 and the material 38. In other words, although the scroll rolls 28-30 rotate in the same direction as or opposite to the reel 36 the slippage between the material 38 and the scroll rolls 28- 30 guarantees that the rate of flow of the material 38 is solely dependent upon the rotational velocity of the reel 36.

It can be understood then that the blades 16 and 18 of the scroll rolls 28-30 must be of the character to exert a slipping frictional force on the material 38 as it passes thereover. In other words, the blades 16 and 18 must frictionally engage the material 38 so as to exert tensional force therein transverse to the direction of flow of the material while not presenting a frictional force sufficient to tear the material. While the material for the blades 16 and 18 must be chosen with due regard given to the characteristics of the material 38, it has been found that a blade made from reinforced TFE compounds has, for most plastic and fabric materials 38, the desirable frictional slipping characteristic. TF E compounds are flexible and yet strong and they are also heat resistant so as to readily handle materials 38 which might be at high temperatures. While TFE compounds and particularly reinforced TF E have been found to be quite adequate for most materials 38, it is of course to be understood that as the characteristics of the material 38 change for each application, the materials for the blades 16 and 18 of the scroll roll may well also be required to change.

With an understanding of the general utilization of the scroll roll 10, specific reference to the construction thereof shall now be made. FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of a composite rib blade assembly 16 which of course might also be illustrative of a blade assembly 18. As can be seen, blade assembly 16 basically comprises a base 40 having returning flanges 42 on each end thereof. The flanges 42 are preferably tempered or otherwise treated so as to constitute gripping springtype elements at each end of the base 40. A radial blade member 46, comprising an elongate piece of appropriate material such as reinforced TFE material, is clamped between two L-shaped support members 44 which are anchoringly gripped under the flanges 42. The radial blade element 46 constitutes the portion of the blade assembly 16 which makes contact with the material 38 being processed. The height and thickness of the blade element 46 is variable depending upon the particular application but a generally useful height is between /1 to about 1 inch with a width of between 0.050 inches to about 0.250 inches. Of course, the base 40 and the support members 44 preferably are of a rigid material which may be spirally wrapped about the cylindrical body member 12 of the scroll roll 10, but which may be slightly bendable under loading.

The composite rib blade assembly may take a similar structural configuration to the fins for heat exchange rolls shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,929, and particularly FIGS. 8 to 19 thereof. However, the height and width of the TFE blade, and the configuration of the support base may vary to be compatible with the web material associated with the roll. Normally, I have found that the support members 44 should extend about 40 percent to 70 percent of the height of the blade member 46, and the blade member 46 should be rigid, but sufficiently flexible to allow it to bend to facilitate the sliding of material relative thereto. The blade member 46 should preferably have slightly rounded lateral edges such as shown at 39 in FIG. 3 so as not to catch on or cut into the web material.

Of course, the base 40 is securedly attached to the cylindrical body member 12 of the scroll roll 10, this attachment being by means of a bonding agent, bolts, rivets or tack welding. The radial blade 46 is then held in a vice-like frictional gripping engagement between the support members 44 but is readily removable and replaceable as a unit with regards to the scroll roll 10. Consequently, while the base 40 may be permanently attached to the cylinder 12 the radial blade 46 which is subject to wear is readily replaceable.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the center section of the scroll roll 10. As was mentioned above, the

blades 16 and 18 substantially meet at and diverge from the center 20 of the scroll roll 10. To smoothly interconnect these threads 16 and 18, a mounded portion 50, common to both the threads 16 and 18, is securely attached to the cylindrical body member 12 at the center 26 thereof. The mounded portion 50 provides for a smooth contact of the scroll roll 10 with the material 38 where the threads 16 and 18 are substantially joined together.

FIG. 5 illustrates the center joining unit 52 containing thereon the mounded portion 50. It can be seen that the unit 52 is substantially triangular in shape and is provided with a single screw or rivet 54 at one end thereof and screws or rivets 56 at the other end thereof to secure the unit 52 to the cylindrical body member 12. It should be appreciated that the unit 52 would securingly cover the inturned flanges 42 of the base 40 associated with each of the threads of blades 16 and 18. Thus, the center joining unit 52 secures the flanges 42 and the base 40 to the body 12. A tab 58 at the end of the unit 52 wraps about the body 12 and is tucked in under the other end of the unit 52 such that a smooth, continuous, and secure scroll roll is developed. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the center ends of the threads 16 and 18 smoothly abut against the mounded portion 50 so that no sharp edges are present to rip or tear the material 38. The blades 16 and 18 may come together in a configuration as a pointed snowplow, also.

The opposite ends of the composite rib blades are secured in a smooth transition to the body 12 by a flat locking strap-cap arrangement illustrated generally by numeral 41 in FIG. 1. The strap-caps 41 cover both sides of the base flanges 42 at the ends again so that no edges are present to catch or tear the web material.

It should now be apparent that the tension exerted within the material 38 as it passes over the scroll roll 10 is dependent upon several parameters. As mentioned hereinabove, the relative friction between the materials of the radial blade 46 and the material 38 being processed has an important affect upon the amount of tension or stress induced into the material 38. Further, the pitch of the threads 16 and 18 and the speed of rotation of the scroll roll 10 about the shaft 14 will also greatly affect this stress. Consequently, the speed of rotation, the pitch of the diverging threads 16 and 18, and the particular material used to comprise the radial blades 46 must all be selected with applicational purposes in mind.

FIG. 6 illustrates a use of the scroll roll 10 quite different from that presented hereinabove. Here the scroll roll 10 is utilized as a screw feeder wherein the scroll roll 10 is housed within a housing 62 having an opening 60 in the center portion thereof. The opening 60 may be fed from or feed to a bulk hopper wherein the diverging spiral blade members 16 and 18 are again preferably of reinforced TFE material which, being both strong and flexible, provides a sealing engagement within the inside diameter of the cylindrical housing 62. As the material to be dispensed passes through the opening 60 and the scroll roll 10 is caused to rotate within the stationary housing 62 the material is passed by the spiraling blades 16 and 18 from or towards opposite ends of the housing according to the rotation direction of roll 10 and the direction of feed desired. If each end of the housing 62 is characterized by the presence of secondary openings (not shown), then the material will be dispensed or received at both ends thereof such that a single bulk hopper may feed the material contained therein to two separate locations or visa versa. The sealing engagement between the blades 16 and 18 about the inside circumference of the cylindrical housing 62 guarantees that efficient passage of the material will be achieved.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes only the best known and preferred embodiments of the invention have been presented and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Consequently, for a true appreciation of the scope and breadth of the invention reference should be had to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A scroll roll, comprising:

a cylindrical body member and defining an axis;

a shaft extending from each end of the body member about which the body member may rotate;

two sets of composite rib blade members spirally wound about the body member in a center diverging manner, the blade members having flexibly bendable blade secured within rigid metallic bases, the bases being fixedly secured to the body member;

a securing member wrapped about the metallic bases of the blade members and the body member at the center thereof to provide a smooth joining of the diverging blade members; and

two flat locking strap-caps, one at each end of the body member, wrapped about both sides of the metallic bases at the ends thereof so as to provide a smooth transition from the body member to the blade members.

2. A scroll roll, comprising:

a cylindrical body member;

two sets of composite rib blade members spirally wound about the cylindrical body member and diverging from a common position thereon, one in a right-handed manner and the other in a left-handed manner, the composite rib blade members each comprising a metallic base securedly attached to the body member and an elongate blade made from a flexible non-metallic substantially friction resistant material grippingly secured by the base in substantially perpendicular relationship to the body member; and

a securing member wrapped about and engaging portions of the metallic bases of the blade members and the body member at the common position.

3. The scroll roll as recited in claim 2 wherein the securing member is substantially triangular in shape, being flat at its apex and having an elevated center base portion to provide a smooth connection to the ends of the diverging blade members.

4. The scroll roll as recited in claim 2 which includes metallic support members attached to the base and wherein the elongate blade is removably frictionally secured between the support members.

5. The scroll roll as recited in claim 2 wherein the blade is gripped to about 40 percent of its heighth by the base, and the edges of the blade are partially rounded, and the blade is at least four times as high as it is wide.

6. The scroll roll as recited in claim 2 wherein there are further provided flat locking strap-caps, one at each end of the body member, each such strap-cap covering both sides of the metallic bases of the blade member so as to cover the edges thereof and thereby provide a smooth blade member termination. 

1. A scroll roll, comprising: a cylindrical body member and defining an axis; a shaft extending from each end of the body member about which the body member may rotate; two sets of composite rib blade members spirally wound about the body member in a center diverging manner, the blade members having flexibly bendable blade secured within rigid metallic bases, the bases being fixedly secured to the body member; a securing member wrapped about the metallic bases of the blade members and the body member at the center thereof to provide a smooth joining of the diverging blade members; and two flat locking strap-caps, one at each end of the body member, wrapped about both sides of the metallic bases at the ends thereof so as to provide a smooth transition from the body member to the blade members.
 2. A scroll roll, comprising: a cylindrical body member; two sets of composite rib blade members spirally wound about the cylindrical body member and diverging from a common position thereon, one in a right-handed manner and the other in a left-handed manner, the composite rib blade members each comprising a metallic base securedly attached to the body member and an elongate blade made from a flexible non-metallic substantially friction resistant material grippingly secured by the base in substantially perpendicular relationship to the body member; and a securing member wrapped about and engaging portions of the metallic bases of the blade members and the body member at the common position.
 3. The scroll roll as recited in claim 2 wherein the securing member is substantially triangular in shape, being flat at its apex and having an elevated center base portion to provide a smooth connection to the ends of the diverging blade members.
 4. The scroll roll as recited in claim 2 which includes metallic support members attached to the base and wherein the elongate blade is removably frictionally secured between the support members.
 5. The scroll roll as recited in claim 2 wherein the blade is gripped to about 40 percent of its heighth by the base, and the edges of the blade are partially rounded, and the blade is at least four times as high as it is wide.
 6. The scroll roll as recited in claim 2 wherein there are further provided flat locking strap-caps, one at each end of the body member, each such strap-cap covering both sides of the metallic bases of the blade member so as to cover the edges thereof and thereby provide a smooth blade member termination. 